Below Average CostVery SafeSpencer School District
Spencer Wisconsin · Jeff the quiet / CC0Spencer, Wisconsin · Wikideas1 / CC0Spencer Wisconsin Downtown WIS13 WIS98 · I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: / CC BY-SA 3.0Spencer Wisconsin Downtown WIS13 · I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: / CC BY-SA 3.0
Spencer is a small town of 1,669 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $67,411
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Spencer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Spencer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Spencer city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.1
Spencer's overall cost of living index is 90.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Spencer costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Spencer, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$133,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$476
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,411
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Spencer's violent crime rate is 134.9 per 100,000 residents
— 64% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
134.9 /100k
Property Crime
556.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Spencer is served primarily by Spencer School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Spencer, WI
National Avg
School District
Spencer School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Spencer sees average highs of 22.7°F in January
and 79.6°F in July,
with 24.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Spencer's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Spencer roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $133,800 and median rent is $476/month.
Spencer's violent crime rate is 134.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Spencer are operated by Spencer School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Spencer, WI has a population of 1,669, a median household income of $67,411, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Spencer averages 22.7°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.9 inches
with about 44.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Spencer, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54479.
The population of Spencer, Wisconsin is 1,669 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Spencer: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $133,800, median household income $67,411, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Spencer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
